Medical concerns put brakes on first-rounder Dykstra's deal

Concerned about the results of a physical exam, the Padres have backed off on finalizing a deal with their recent first-round pick, first baseman Allan Dykstra.

Terms of a signing bonus had been agreed to before Padres doctors examined the 21-year-old Wake Forest star, even though the Padres had been aware of hip surgery that sidelined Dykstra during his career at Rancho Bernardo High.

"I'd rather not discuss the medicals; that's basically private stuff," Vice President of Scouting and Development Grady Fuson said Thursday. "Obviously we do have a couple of concerns, but we're not even close to figuring it out."

Fuson said the chances remain "good, real good" that the deal gets done. "Something got to our attention in the physical that we just want to slow this thing down," Fuson said. "I still feel good about it. We're just slowing things down a little bit. It's going to take a while to get all of the information that we need."

The two sides had agreed on a signing bonus of about $1.4 million. With the Dykstra deal up in the air, negotiations with other draftees could be affected.

This decade, several players drafted by the Padres in the first round went on to have severe physical setbacks.

Their first selection in 2001, third baseman Jake Gautreau, developed colitis in the minor leagues. Pitcher Tim Stauffer, drafted fourth overall by the Padres in 2004, reported a shoulder ailment before terms were agreed to and signed for $750,000, which was about $2 million less than the club offered before his revelation. Stauffer had labrum surgery this season.

Pitcher Matt Bush underwent reconstructive elbow surgery last summer, three years after the Padres had chosen him first overall as a shortstop; pitcher Cesar Carrillo had reconstructive elbow surgery in May 2007, two years after the Padres drafted him; left-hander Nick Schmidt, selected 23rd overall last June, had reconstructive elbow surgery after three professional outings.

Another prominent draftee, Xavier Nady, was shut down because of a sore throwing elbow less than a week after joining the Padres in 2000, the same year that he agreed to a $2.95 million guarantee. He later had reconstructive elbow surgery.

Notes

The Padres plan to promote Triple-A utility man Luis Rodriguez, a switch-hitter who is batting .333.

-- Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff isn't fully recovered from a back ailment that recently sidelined him for six consecutive games, yet he had two hits Thursday and has hit safely in his past six games.

-- In interleague play, which began in 1997, the Padres are 83-108, including 43-51 in San Diego. This season, the Padres have lost all five series against AL clubs.

-- Khalil Greene's home run moved him into a tie with Steve Finley and Carmelo Martinez for ninth on the franchise all-time list (82).